I have a consession with the city with a yearly fee, took about a year of getting bounced between departments to get them at the same meeting and moving ahead. With the popularity thing, I think it's a combination of ease of use, for the same 18' boat, with a powerboat you can easily fit 2 adults and 3 kids and not listen to any whining about why there's no wind, and the look at me factor, which is a lot higher with a loud boat, even if the looks are disapproving for being obnoxious, they're still looking....